The history of the name Tissent begins with the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This Norman name was soon thereafter given to a fiesty or hot-tempered person. The name is a metaphor derived from the Old French word tison meaning fire-brand. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

Early Origins of the Tissent family

The surname Tissent was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat from early times, where the name originally was Tesson, one of the most powerful families in Normandy seated at Angouleme. Their history is French more than Viking and they distinguished themselves against the Saracens in 725. They were later seated at Anjou and Raoul Tesson the first Lord of Cingueleiz led 120 knights at Val-Des-Dunes in 1047. Gilbert Tesson, his brother, obtained the barony of Alnwick from King Edward the Confessor, England's Saxon King, and was killed at the Battle of Hastings, fighting on the Saxon side.

Early History of the Tissent family

Early History of the Tissent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tissent research.Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1651, 1708 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Tissent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tissent Spelling Variations

Tissent Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Tissent family name include Tyson, Tesson, Tewson, Tiuson, Tison, Dyson and many more.

Early Notables of the Tissent family (pre 1700)

Early Notables of the Tissent family (pre 1700)

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tissent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tissent family to the New World and Oceana

Migration of the Tissent family to the New World and Oceana

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Tissent family to immigrate North America: Lewis Tyson who settled in Maryland in 1719; George Tyson settled in Virginia in 1642; Charles, Thomas, J. J.R. and Dr. Tyson all arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.